MOOKA PANCHASHATI-STUTI SATAKAM (SLOKAS 1-25)

           मूकपञ्चशती (मूककवि प्रणीता)  
               
स्तुतिशतकम्
             
(slokas 1 to 25)
Mooka Panchashati is a devotional
composition by Muka Kavi dedicated to Kamakshi. The real name of the poet is
not known. Legend has it that he was born dumb but regained not only his
voice  by 
the grace of Goddess Kamakshi but also became a poet of considerable
merit. Mooka Panchashati  consists of
five satakams, each Satakam containing 100 verses. The Satakams  are Arya Satakam, Padaravinda Satakam,
Stuti Satakam, Kataksha Satakam and Mandasmita Satakam.
Goddess Kamakshi is the presiding
deity of Kancheepuram.  Her consort is
Ekamreshwara, an aspect of Lord Shiva. 
Kanchi is the Central Peetham established by Aadi Shankaracharya who
installed and consecrated the  idol of
Kamakshi and established the system of worship there. The other  Peethams are at Badrinath in the North,
Dwarka in theWest,  Puri in the East and
Sringeri (Sringa giri) in the South.
The translation into English of a
hymn of this nature is a delicate task and readers may kindly pardon the
shortcomings, though every attempt has been made to make the translation as
close as possible to the intended or perceived meaning. 
पाण्डित्यं परमेश्वरि स्तुतिविधौ नैवाश्रयन्ते गिरां
वैरिञ्चानपि गुम्फनानि विगलद्गर्वाणि शर्वाणि ते ।
स्तोतुं त्वां परिफुल्लनीलनलिनश्यामाक्षि कामाक्षि मां
वाचालीकुरुते तथापि नितरां त्वत्पादसेवादरः ॥१॥
O Kamakshi !, Consort of Shiva with dark blue eyes like a blue
lotus in full blossom!,  the greatest of
the goddesses, proficiency in the use of words does not help in praising your
glories where even the erudite words of Brahma lose their pride (as they are
inadequate to praise you enough).  In
spite of this, my intense desire to serve you and worship at your feet prompts
me to be articulate and sing hymns in your praise.
तापिञ्छस्तबकत्विषे तनुभृतां दारिद्र्यमुद्राद्विषे
संसाराख्यतमोमुषे पुररिपोर्वामाङ्कसीमाजुषे।
कम्पातीरमुपेयुषे कवयतां जिह्वाकुटीं जग्मुषे
विश्वत्राणपुषे नमोऽस्तु सततं तस्मै परं ज्योतिषे॥२॥
My prostrations be always to that Supreme
Effulgence (Kamakshi) the complexion of which is bright as the tapinjha
blossom, which drives away the poverty of people, which dispels the darkness
named samasra, which shares the left 
half of Lord Shiva’s body, which strolls on the banks of Kampa river,
which abides in the tongue-hut of poets and which protects and nourishes all
the worlds. 
ये संध्यारुणायन्ति शंकरजटाकान्तारचन्द्रार्भकं
सिन्दूरन्ति च ये पुरन्दरवधूसीमन्तसीमान्तरे।
पुण्यं ये परिपक्वयन्यि भजतां काञ्चीपुरे माममी
पायासुः परमेश्वरप्रणयिनीपादोद्भवाः पांसवः ॥३॥
May the particles from the lotus feet of
Kamkshi, the object of love of Parameshwara, protect us. Those red particles
make the crescent moon in the matted locks of Shiva red as the sandhya
(evening twilight) as He bows down at Kamakshi’s feet. They fill with red sinduram
the seemantha  ( the line formed
when the hair on the head is parted in the middle) of the celestial damsels
while they bow down and they make the punya of the devotees who worship
in Kanchi  mature and yield fruits.  
कामाडंबरपूरया शशिरुचा कम्रस्मितानां त्विषा
कामारेरनुरागसिन्धुमधिकं कल्लोलितं तन्वती।
कामाक्षीति समस्तसज्जननुता कल्याणदात्री नृणां
कारुण्याकुलमानसा भगवती कम्पातटॆ जृम्भते ॥४॥
The Goddess praised by all the good people as
Kamakshi,  who does good to all people,
whose heart is full of kindness, who raises waves in the ocean of love of the
enemy of Cupid (Shiva) by the shining of the moon on her forehead and the
radiance of her beautiful smile, shines on the banks of the river Kampa.
कामाक्षीणपराक्रमप्रकटनं संभावयन्ती दृशा
श्यामा क्षीरसहोदरस्मितरुचिप्रक्षालिताशान्तरा।
वामाक्षीजनमौलिभूषणमणिर्वाचां परा देवता
कामाक्षीति विभाति कापि करुणा कम्पातटिन्यास्तटे ॥५॥
The very embodiment of mercy, known as
Kamakshi shines on the banks of the river Kampa in Kanchi. Her eyes manifest
the undiminished valour of the God of Love, she is of dark complexion but the
milky white brightness of her smile radiates in all directions, she is the
crest-jewel of all women and the highest goddess of speech or words of poets.
  
 
श्यामा काचन चन्द्रिकात्र भुवने पुण्यात्मनामानने
सीमाशून्यकवित्ववर्षजननी या कापि कादंबिनी ।
मारारातिमनोविमोहनविधौ काचित्तमःकन्दली
कामाक्ष्याः करुणाकटाक्षलहरी कामाय मे कल्पताम् ॥६॥
That which is dark moonlight in this
world,  dark clouds  which rain poetry of incomparable beauty from
the mouths of men who have earned enough punya ( by their good deeds),
dark effulgence which captivates the heart 
of Shiva, the enemy of Cupid,  may
that Kamakshi’s waves of sidelong 
glances¸ charged with compassion, 
fulfil my wishes.
प्रैढध्वान्तकदंबके कुमुदिनीपुण्याङ्कुरं
दर्शय-
ञ्ज्योत्स्नासंगमनेऽपि कोकमिथुनं
मिश्रं समुद्भावयन्।
कालिन्दीलहरीदशां प्रकटयन्कम्रां
नभस्यद्भुतां
कश्चिन्नेत्रमहोत्सवो विजयते
काञ्चीपुरे शूलिनः ॥७॥
Victory to Kamakshi, the great festival for
the eyes of Shiva, who shines in Kanchi. 
She is like the moonlight in dense darkness. Though she is associated
with moonlight as she wears the crescent moon on her forehead,  she likes chakravaka-chakravaki pair
of birds which want only the sun.   She
appears beautiful as the wonderful dark waves of the Kalinidi river during the
rains.
तन्द्राहीनतमालनीलसुषमैस्तारुण्यलीलागृहै-
स्तारानाथकिशोरलाञ्छितकचैस्ताम्रारविन्देक्षणैः।
मातः संश्रयतां मनो मनसिजप्रागल्भ्यनाडिंधमैः
कंपातीरचरैर्घनस्तनभरैः पुण्याङ्कुरैः
शंकरैः ॥८॥
Let my mind take refuge in the consort of
Sankara (Shiva) whose complexion is as dark as the blue tamala flowers,  who is the play of house of fresh youth, who
adorns her tresses with the crescent moon, whose eyes are like the petals of
the red lotus, who curbs the pride of Cupid, who strolls on the banks of the
Kampa river and whose breasts are heavy.   
नित्यं निश्चलतामुपेत्य मरुतां
रक्षाविधिं पुष्णती
तेजःसंचयपाटवेन किरणानुष्णद्युतेर्मुष्णती।
काञ्चीमध्यगताऽपि दीप्तिजननी
विश्वान्तरे जृंभते
काचिच्चित्रमहो स्मृतापि तमसां
निर्वापिका दीपिका ॥९॥
Remaining Herself still she protects and
nurtures the winds (which are always on the move). Though skilled in gathering
all light she steals the rays of the Sun (i.e. she is far brighter than the
Sun).  Though she abides in Kanchi she
inundates the whole cosmos with her effulgence. It is nothing less than a
wonder that Kamakshi, like a lamp, dispels the darkness of ignorance merely by
her remembrance.   
कान्तैः केशरुचां चयैर्भ्रमरितं
मन्दस्मितैः पुष्पितं
कान्त्या पल्लवितं पदांबुरहयोर्नेत्रत्विषा
पत्रितम्।
कंपातीरवनान्तरं विदधती कल्याणजन्मस्थली
काञ्चीमध्यमहामणिर्विजयते काचित्कृपाकन्दली
॥१०॥
The banks of the Kampa river  are transformed into a forest in which the
beautiful dark tresses of Kamakshi are honey-bees, her smile  flowers, 
her dark complexion  leaf buds,
the radiance of her lotus feet and the eyes are leaves. It becomes the birth
place of all good things. Victory to the gem abiding in the centre of Kanchi
which is the repository of  all
kindness.     
राकाचन्द्रसमानकान्तिवदना नाकाधिराजस्तुता
मूकानामपि कुर्वती सुरधुनीनीकाशवाग्वैभवम् ।
श्रीकाञ्चीनगरीविहाररसिकाशोकापहन्त्री सता-
मेका पुण्यपरंपरा पशुपतेराकारिणी राजते ॥११॥
The One, 
whose face is as bright as the full moon, who is praised by Indra, who
grants even to those who are dumb powers of oratory matching the flow of the
heavenly Ganga, who loves to engage in playful activities  in the city of Kanchi,  who wipes the tears of sorrow of the good,  shines as 
Kamakshi, the very embodiment of the fruits of the chain of punya
(merit) earned by Lord Shiva, her consort.
जाताशीतलशैलतः सुकृतिनां दृश्या
परं देहिनां
लोकानां क्षणमात्रसंस्मरणतः
संतापविच्छेदिनी।
आश्चर्यं बहुखेलनं वितनुते नैश्च्लयमाबिभ्रती
कम्पायास्तटसीम्नि कापि तटिनी
कारुण्यपाथोमयी ॥१२॥
In the vicinity of the banks of Kampa River
runs another river which is full of the water of kindness and mercy which is
born of Himavan, which is visible only to those who have lot of punya to their
credit, which removes the distress of people just by remembrance for a second,
which does many wonderful things playfully though its nature is stability
ऐक्यं येन विरच्यते हरतनौ दंभावपुंभावके
रेखा यत्कचसीम्नि शेखरदशां नैशाकरी गाहते।
औन्नत्यं मुहुरेति येन स महान्मेनासखः सानुमा-
न्कंपातीरविहारिणा सशरणास्तेनैव धाम्ना वयम् ॥१३॥
It is the effulgence which plays on the banks
of the Kampa river which grants us refuge; the effulgence which unites with the
body of Shiva to become dampati (man and wife),  which sports the crescent moon on her tresses
and which gives Himavan, again and again, a very high place.
अक्ष्णोश्च स्तनयोः श्रिया श्रवणयोर्बाह्वोश्च मूलं
स्पृश-
न्नुत्तंसेन मुखेन च प्रतिदिनं द्रुह्यन्पयोजन्मने।
माधुर्येण गिरां गतेन मृदुना हंसाङ्गनां ह्वेपय-
न्काञ्चीसीम्नि चकास्ति कोऽपि कवितासंतानबीजाङ्कुरः
॥१४॥
There shines in Kanchi  something which is the sprouting seed for the
progeny of poetry which daily puts down the lotus by the beauty of its eyes,
breasts and the ornaments for the ears and shoulders  and which, by the sweetness of words and  pretty gait, puts swans to shame. 
खण्डं चान्द्रमसं वतंसमनिशं काञ्चीपुरे खेलनं
कालायश्छवितस्करीं तनुरुचिं कर्णेजपे लोचने।
तारुण्योष्मनखंपचं स्तनभरं जङ्घास्पृशं कुन्तलं
भाग्यं देशिकसंचितं मम कदा संपादयेदंबिके ॥१५॥
O Mother! 
When shall I gain the fortune gathered by my guru which sports
the crescent moon on its head, which plays in Kanchi, which steels the lustre
of black iron, which has eyes  long
enough to reach up to the ears, full breasts of youth and tresses touching the back
of her shins.
तन्वानं निजकेलिसौधसरणिं नैसर्गिकीणां गिरां
केदारं कविमल्लसूक्तिलहरीसस्यश्रियां शाश्वतम् ।
अंहोवञ्चनचुञ्चु किंचन भजे काञ्चीपुरी मण्डनं
पर्यायच्छविपाकशासनमणेः पौष्पेषवं पौरुषम् ॥१६॥
I meditate on that dark blue effulgence which  makes the natural words its play house, which
is the field from which grow the beautiful plants of poetry emanating from
poets of great merit, which is adept in wiping out the sins (of devotees), which
is the adornment of Kanchi, which has the radiance of the blue gem and  which is the valour of Cupid. 
आलोके मुखपङ्कजे च दधतीं सौधाकरीं चातुरीं
चूडालंक्रियमाणपङ्कजवनीवैरागमप्रक्रिया।
मुग्धस्मेरमुखी घनस्तनतटी मूर्छालमध्याञ्चिता
काञ्चीसीमनि कामिनी विजयते काचिज्जगन्मोहिनी ॥१७॥
Victory to the damsel who abides in Kanchi and who enchants the
whole world who carries in her eyes and in her lotus face the sweetness of
nectar, who has the crescent moon as adornment, who has a bewitching smile,
heavy breasts and a slender middle. 
यस्मिन्नम्ब भवत्कटाक्षरजनी मन्देऽपि मन्दस्मित-
ज्योत्स्नासंस्नपिता भवत्यभिमुखी तं प्रत्यहो देहिनम्।
द्राक्षामाक्षिकमाधुरीमदभरव्रीडाकरी वैखरी
कामाक्षि स्वयमातनोत्यभिसृतिं वामेक्षणेव क्षणात् ॥१८॥
O Mother Kamakshi! he,  on whom falls your sidelong glance-night
bathed in the moonlight of your smile, is spontaneously approached by the
damsel of poetic words putting to shame grapes and honey by her sweetness (he
becomes a poet whose poems gladden the hearts of the wise)     
कालिन्दीजलकान्तयः स्मितरुचिस्वर्वाहिनीपाथसि
प्रौढध्वान्तरुचः स्फुटाधरमहोलौहित्यसंध्योदये।
माणिक्योपलकुण्डलांशुशिखिनि व्यामिश्रधूमश्रियः
कल्याणैकभुवः कटाक्षसुषमाः कामाक्षि राजन्ति ते ॥१९॥
O Kamkshi! The radiance of your sidelong
glances which are the fertile soil of everything auspicious resembles the dark
waters of Yamnua in the milky white waters of the celestial Ganga represented
by the brightness of your smile.  It also
resembles the dense darkness in the evening twilight (sandhya, sun set)
represented by the red tinge of your lips. 
It is also like the smoke from the fire represented by the brightness of
your manikya ear-globes.  
कलकलरणत्काञ्ची काञ्चीविभूषणमालिका
कचभरलसच्चन्द्रा चन्द्रावतंससधर्मिणी
कविकुलगिरः श्रावं श्रावं मिलत्पुलकाङ्कुरा
विरचितशिरःकंपा कम्पातटे परिशोभते ॥२०॥
Goddess Meenakshi shines on the banks of Kampa river.  Her anklets make sweet tinkling sound.   She is the garland adorning Kanchi.  On her tresses shines the crescent moon.  She is the consort of Shiva who sports the
crescent moon on his matted hair.  Hairs
of her body stand on end hearing the sweet verses of poets and she nods her
head in appreciation.  
सरसवचसां वीची नीचीभवन्मधुमाधुरी
भरितभुवना कीर्तिर्मूर्तिर्मनोभवजित्वरी ।
जननि मनसो योग्यं भोग्यं नृणां तव जायते
कथमिव विना काञ्चीभूषे कटाक्षतरङ्गितम् ॥२१॥
The waves of fluent speech the sweetness of
which puts down the sweetness of honey, fame which fills the whole world,  body which even the Cupid will envy and
enjoyment of worldly things dear to one’s heart – how can these things be
acquired by men, O Adornment of Kanchi, without the waves of your sidelong glances.    
भ्रमरितसरित्कूलो नीलोत्पलप्रभया भया-
नतजनतमःखण्डी तुण्डीरसीम्नि विजृंभते।
अचलतपसामेकः पाकः प्रसूनशरासन-
प्रतिभटमनोहारी नारीकुलैकशिखामणिः ॥२२॥
Goddess Kamakshi who is the crest-jewel of
women,  who has captivated the heart of
Lord Shiva, who is the fruit of unwavering austerities of Shiva, who dispels
the fear of those who bow at her feet shines on the banks of Kampa making its
banks appear as if inhabited by honey bees by the dark blue radiance like that of
the blue lotus.     
मधुरवचसो मन्दस्मेरा मतङ्गजगामिन-
स्तरुणिमजुषस्तापिञ्छाभास्तमःपरिपन्थिनः।
कुचभरनताः कुर्युर्भद्रं कुरङ्गविलोचनाः
कलितकरुणाः काञ्चीभाजः कपालिमहोत्सवाः ॥२३॥
May Goddess Kamakshi  whose words are sweet, who has a beautiful
smile, whose gait is like that of the intoxicated elephant, whose youth is
fresh, who is as bright as the tapinjha flower, who is slightly bent by
the weight of her breasts, whose eyes are like those of the doe, who is full of
kindness and whose abode is Kanchi,  be
auspicious for us (may we be blessed by her)
कमलसुषमाकक्ष्यारोहे विचक्षणवीक्षणाः
कुमुदसुकृतक्रीडाचूडालकुन्तलबन्धुराः ।
रुचिररुचिभिस्तापिञ्छश्रीप्रपञ्चचुञ्चवः
पुरविजयिनः कंपातीरे स्फुरन्ति मनोरथाः ॥२४॥
Goddess kamakshi, the heart’s desire of Lord
Shiva, the destroyer of the triple cities, shines on the banks of the Kampa
river.  Her eyes are beautiful as the
lotus petals, she has beautiful tresses adorned by the crescent moon and she
radiates the brightness of tapinjha flowers
कलितरतयः काञ्चीलीलाविधौ कविमण्डली-
वचनलहरीवासन्तीनां  वसन्तविभूतयः ।
कुशलविधये भूयासुर्मे कुरङ्गविलोचनाः
कुसुमविशिखारातेरक्ष्णां कुतूहलविभ्रमाः ॥२५॥
May Goddess
Kamakshi,  who likes playful activities
in Kanchi, who is the affluence of the spring for the waves of  beautiful lyrics of  poets, who has beautiful eyes like the doe
and who is the joy for the eyes of the enemy of Cupid (Shiva), shower her
blessings on me


Sri P R Ramamurthy Ji was the author of this website. When he started this website in 2009, he was in his eighties. He was able to publish such a great number of posts in limited time of 4 years. We appreciate his enthusiasm for Sanskrit Literature. Authors story in his own words : http://ramamurthypr1931.blogspot.com/

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